# Is it legitimate to treat matrices this way?

1. Sep 14, 2006

### pivoxa15

Make a matrix G so that each element in G is another matrix with a constant dimension (i.e. 3 by 3). Hence a 3 by 3 G would mean each element in G is a 3 by 3 matrix. With a total of 9 matrices in G.

Or a 6 by 6 G would mean each element in G for which there are 36 are 36 matrices each of which is 3 by 3.

If so than how about making each element in a matrix, vectors with a fixed dimension? So a 6 by 6 matrix would have 36 vectors with a fixed dimension.

Then matrices like G can be operated on just like scalar matrices but care has to be taken when considering the dimensions of the matrix elements in G. But when all this has been taken into account than would it all be okay?

Last edited: Sep 14, 2006
2. Sep 15, 2006

### pivoxa15

No reply in two days? Do I need to clarify or elaborate on my question?

Wiki has 'In mathematics, a matrix (plural matrices) is a rectangular table of numbers or, more generally, a table consisting of abstract quantities that can be added and multiplied.'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_(mathematics)

A matrix is itself abstract and forms a Ring? (since the hyperlink to 'abstract quantities that can be added and multiplied' is the Ring article).

3. Sep 15, 2006

### Galileo

If you have a ring, then you can form the ring $M_n(R)$ of nxn matrices with entries in R. So you can make matrix rings of matrix rings etc. Is that what you meant?

4. Sep 15, 2006

### pivoxa15

I was thinking something like $G_a(M_b(R))$. If the Latex is not showing click the formula to view. G and M denote square matrices. While a and b represent their dimensions respectively (i.e. axa bxb). Each element in G is matrix M with a dimension bxb. In M each element is in R.

Last edited: Sep 15, 2006
5. Sep 16, 2006

### matt grime

Of course you can do that.

And "a matrix" is not a ring. A matrix is a matrix. A collection of matrices can form a ring, and as Galileo says, the full collection of all matrices over some ring is again a ring.

6. Sep 16, 2006

### pivoxa15

Thanks for the confirmation. I used this in an assigment but only realised whether it was legitimate after I handed it in. Because at the time, everything fitted so nicely that I didn't bother to think about the legitamcy of it.

7. Sep 16, 2006

### HallsofIvy

Sounds like you are talking about "block matrices". It is not at all uncommon to take, for example, a 16 by 16 matrix and treat it as a 4 by 4 matrix, each of whose entries is a 4 by 4 matrix. It is also often done to treat an (n+1) by (n+1) matrix as a 2 by 2 matrix
$$\left[\begin{array}{cc}A & B \\ C & D\end{array}\right]$$
where A is an n by n matrix, B is an n by 1 matrix, C is a 1 by n matrix, and D is a 1 by 1 matrix.

In particular, one can show that the usual multiplication of matrices:
$$\left[\begin{array}{cc}A & B \\C & D\end{array}\right]\left[\begin{array}{cc}E & F \\G & H\end{array}\right] = \left[\begin{array}{cc}AE+ BG & AF+ BH \\ CE+ CG & CF+ DH\end{array}\right]$$
is still valid as long as the "sub matrices" are of the correct sizes to multiply..

8. Sep 16, 2006

### pivoxa15

On the subject of abstract entities, what are the major differences between a ring and a group? A ring has more axioms than a group but the axioms are of very similar in nature (operations in a ring is restricted to addition and multiplication). But the operation in a group is unrestricted. What are the relations between groups and rings? Is a group a more general entity than a ring hence rings are also groups but the opposite does not occur often?

Also are fields normally a subset of a ring?

Last edited: Sep 16, 2006
9. Sep 17, 2006

### loopgrav

Get a copy of Hungerford's Abstract Algebra.

10. Sep 17, 2006

### pivoxa15

Incidently, I have a copy right in my home because I am doing an intro subject on this stuff. Is there a reason why you recommand this one over other intro algebra books?

We just started on abstract algebra and covered a little bit on groups and fields but not rings yet. I just like some general answers (if possible) for my previous question about groups and rings.

11. Sep 17, 2006

### matt grime

since you have the axioms in front of you, you know the differences.

I have no idea what that means.

A ring is a set with two binary operations, like the integers, or the rationals, or matrices. A group is a set with one operation, like the complex nth roots of unity under multiplication, or the set of bijections from a set to itself (composition).

I'm not sure it makes sense to think about things like that.

A field is a ring. I don't know what you mean by that question again.